Seventh Women's Livelihood Bond Initiated by IIX, Comes with a $60 Million Investment
The Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) has launched the Women's Livelihood Bond 7 (WLB7), a groundbreaking gender-lens impact investment bond aimed at empowering over 773,000 underserved women and girls in South and Southeast Asia[1][2][5].
WLB7, the largest bond in the award-winning WLB™ Series, has a total fundraising target of a US$60 million tranche, comprising a US$52.8 million 4-year senior tranche supported by a US$7.2 million first-loss subordinated tranche[1][4]. The bond benefits from a 40% guarantee from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), ensuring risk mitigation for investors[1][4].
The bond has attracted significant investor interest, including from banks like ANZ, and demonstrates a successful model of blended finance, combining public and private capital to scale women-led enterprises in the Global South[1][4]. It is expected to be listed on the Singapore Exchange, increasing visibility and liquidity for gender-lens investing in the region[4].
The proceeds are allocated to high-impact enterprises led by or serving women in critical sectors including financial inclusion, agriculture, clean energy, and water and sanitation. These sectors address systemic inequalities and climate challenges, directly advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 13 (Climate Action)[1][2].
WLB7 is certified under the Orange Bond Principles™, reinforcing its sustainable finance credentials, and has received a Second Party Opinion from Sustainable Fitch, underscoring rigour in impact assessment and transparency[1].
IIX, founded by a Bangladeshi-born US investment banker named Shahnaz in 2009, has positively impacted over 160 million lives through its various initiatives[6]. The organization has also partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its $10 million investment in WLB7[2].
In addition, IFC is providing $4.5 million in subordinated debt to the IIX Women's Catalyst Fund[3]. These investments further underscore the commitment to women's economic empowerment and sustainable development in the region.
[1] Impact Investment Exchange. (2022). Press Release: IIX Launches Women's Livelihood Bond 7. Retrieved from https://www.theiix.com/press-releases/iix-launches-womens-livelihood-bond-7
[2] Impact Investment Exchange. (2022). Women's Livelihood Bond 7. Retrieved from https://www.theiix.com/womens-livelihood-bond-7
[3] International Finance Corporation. (2022). IFC Invests $4.5 Million in IIX's Women's Catalyst Fund. Retrieved from https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/ industries_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news/ifc-newsroom/ifc-invests-4-5-million-in-iixs-womens-catalyst-fund
[4] The Business Times. (2022). Singapore Exchange to list Women's Livelihood Bond 7. Retrieved from https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/banking-finance/singapore-exchange-to-list-womens-livelihood-bond-7
[5] United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. (2022). Goal 1: No Poverty. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty/
[6] Impact Investment Exchange. (2022). About IIX. Retrieved from https://www.theiix.com/about-us
- The Women's Livelihood Bond 7 (WLB7), a gender-lens impact investment bond, aims to raise $60 million, combining public and private capital for women-led enterprises in South and Southeast Asia, empowering over 773,000 women and girls.
- The bond, supported by a 40% guarantee from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), offers a 4-year senior tranche and a first-loss subordinated tranche, attracting interest from banks like ANZ.
- WLB7 follows the Blended Finance model, increasing visibility and liquidity for gender-lens investing by being listed on the Singapore Exchange, and addresses systemic inequalities and climate challenges, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- The proceeds from WLB7 are allocated to high-impact enterprises in financial inclusion, agriculture, clean energy, and water and sanitation, with the goal of positively impacting over 160 million lives through IIX's initiatives, while driving sustainable finance and social impact.
